LAS VEGAS — Losing team locker rooms at this time of year usually look and sound the same. Dejected players sitting on folding chairs, heads down, looking at their cell phones. They talk to news reporters about the disappointment of not finishing strong and not reaching their goals. Then, after 15 minutes, the fog lifts and life resumes.

That wasn’t the case, however, in Locker Room 6 late Friday night.

No doubt, second-seed Arizona State was disappointed that they let Oregon rally in the second half, force overtime and go on to win 79-75 in the semifinals of Pac-12 Tournament at T-Mobile Arena. But more than that, the Sun Devils were angry.

They felt this was their tournament. Their time.

When reporters crowded around freshman guard Luguentz Dort, sophomore forward Romello White moved to the other side of the locker room, away from the masses. While others scanned their phones, White just sat by himself, his hands clasped in the pocket of...